Adopt a Family Project

Christian Academy in Japan's three core values are "God is the author of all truth. God created humans in his own image. God created humans for community."  Our mission statement is, "Equipping students to serve Japan and the world for Christ.
So, how does one work these core values and mission statement out in a school during day to day activities of education?  What sorts of things does a teacher or group of teachers do to reflect our core values and equip our students to serve?  Today our grade 6 and 7 teachers and students participated in one activity that equips our students and also is related to our core values.
For those of you who have followed my ministry, you have heard about the Middle School's Homeless Outreach at Ikebukuro.  This year, the Middle School teachers decided to pursue a different avenue of service by connecting with Second Harvest and with Dr. Bennett who has a Sidewalk Chapel.  In a previous post, I wrote about the experience of going with some grade 8 students to Yoyogi park and participating in the Sidewalk Chapel.  Other grade 8 students went to Second Harvest on a Saturday and participated in food preparation, distribution and clean up.  Today the grade 6 and 7 students participated in another Second Harvest program, Adopt a Family.  This morning each of the homeroom classes were putting together a box of food for a low income family.  Students were decorating boxes and writing notes to the family and filling the box with various food items.  Students were excited and looked like they were enjoying the activities.  Here are some pictures of the various classes.

Figuring out how to write encouraging note to the family in Japanese.

Today CAJ's grade 6 and 7 students were given the experience of putting a box of food together for a low income family.  We shared that people are important, created in God's image, no matter how rich or poor.  Students experienced that we are community, we care for each other.  This activity gave the students an experience of service for those who live in Japan.  Students wrote encouraging notes to the family, some notes were simple statements of love and compassion, a way to share God's love.  God has blessed me with a great place to work and a great place where we can be a blessing to others.  It is enjoyable to watch this happen and feel the excitement in teachers and students, showing how the core values and mission statement play out at Christian Academy in Japan.